Top Shelf: The Lotus Cocktail at Fifth & Rose
If you missed this spring’s super bloom, you can still revel in the spirit of the season with The Lotus, a crisp floral cocktail at Fifth & Rose inside the Pendry Hotel. Served on the rocks in a globe glass and topped with a colorful pansy, the verdant drink looks more like a fairy-tale potion than an after-work libation. It features a bouquet of arugula, St-Germain, Chartreuse, and Hendrick’s exclusive Orbium gin.
The Pendry is one of the few places in San Diego to sample the limited-edition gin from the Scottish distiller, which is brewed with lotus blossoms instead of the usual juniper berries—you won’t find it at your neighborhood liquor store, as just a few bars in the country even made the cut for distribution. “Other bars have it, but we are the only bar [in San Diego] that has a cocktail with it,” says Juliea Lannen, Pendry San Diego’s beverage director. “It’s invitation-only to put a cocktail on your list with the gin.”
Lannen says gin is about to have its moment, and you can expect to see it making its mark on cocktail menus this summer. “Looking at the history of traditional cocktails, gin is a fundamental spirit and it’s exciting to see it on the uprise.” The Lotus is available through the end of June. Cheers!
Fifth & Rose 550 J Street, Downtown
